Scared About General Anaesthetic for Gall Bladder Removal

I have an upcoming surgery for gall bladder removal.  It needs to be done, I have been in a lot of pain off and on for awhile and at my surgical consult last Friday the surgeon told me the CT scan showed some pancreatic damage so he wants the surgery scheduled SOON. 

I'm okay with the surgery, but I'm REALLY scared about general anaesthetic.  How has everyone else found it?  I had an epidural during my C-section and that was okay, I 'm just really worried and losing sleep over the thought of the general.  I also feel really silly for being anxious.  I thought maybe hearing how it really is would be reassuring or at least take some of the feeling of "unknown" from it.

If anybody else has had this same surgery, how was the recovery time?

I"ve had several surgeries with general anesthesia.  For me t was just like going to sleep and then waking up after a nap.  A little groggy upon waking and then sleepy the rest of the day -- although that can often be attributed to pain meds as well. 

I've never had gall-bladder surgery, so I can't comment directly on that. 

I actually had my gallbladder removed laproscopically 3 weeks ago today (Friday). With the anesthesia, I remember being wheeled into the operating room then waking up in the recovery room- it is a little confusing when you first wake up but then just groggy and sleepy for several hours (partly from pain meds too). There's nothing to be worried about, you won't feel or remember anything from the surgery.

If you are getting open surgery, almost nothing I have to say next applies, lol. But most people get it out laproscopically so... I was walking a little about 15 hours after I went into surgery and went home less than 24 hours after surgery. Kind of laid around for 2 whole days- you do need to get up and walk as much as you can though. I stuck to liquids for the first two days, then started eating things like toast and oatmeal. I was off of the prescribed pain meds by the Tuesday after surgery. I was eating normally and walking fine by the end of the week. I could probably have made it to some of my college classes by the Thursday/Friday after surgery, but I took the whole week after surgery off from work and school. The following Monday I was back on my regular schedule.

The worst thing about the days immediately following surgery was intense pain in my right shoulder. Some people get it worse than others- since they pump your abdomen full of air to have room to work, they can't remove all that air at the end and some gets into that shoulder for some reason. It takes a while for it to go away, and for me that pain was much worse than the pain from the wounds. It did hurt to sneeze and cough, holding a pillow against your stomach helps a little though.

3 weeks later, my scabs have almost all fallen off and I feel mostly normal. I still feel a twinge on my right side if I pick up something too heavy or bend over/kneel too quickly, or sit up from lying down. The biggest change that has occurred in my life since the surgery is having to go to the bathroom soon after eating fatty food- this morning I had an omelette with bacon and pancakes at Dennys and half an hour later I really had to "go". My doctor said this varies a lot- some people have no problem, other people have to go right away... Just takes some time for your body to get used to not having a way to store bile.

Hope that helps!

I haven't had gall bladder surgery but I have had a laparoscopy under general anastetic.

The worst part for me personally was waking up afterward, mostly because I didn't want to wake up. :)  I was all groggy and all I wanted to do was sleep.  I didn't come out of it too well, groggy and dizzy, but all that happened was that I had to stay in the outpatient facilities longer and sleep it off a little more (I was in there three hours more than they wanted me to be).

I was terrified before hand though, so I understand your anxiety.  Mostly you're just goggy and sleepy.  I hope that helps!

Oh and try not to "fight" it going under.  I tried to do that, it didn't work and just induced a panic attack before I lost consciousness. :)

I've been put under general anesthesia a million and a half times. ;-)

It's perfectly safe. One second you're talking with your doctor, and the next you're out like a light. You know that stuff that was a huge controversy with Michael Jackson, because he used it to fall asleep every night? That's propofal (sp?) and it's the best stuff in the world. Make sure your anesthesiologist uses that... you'll wake up fairly easily, with minimal to no nausea.

Good luck with your surgery!